act 1

SCENE 1: Journey To Dracula's Castle

The story begins with Jonathan Harker, a young English solicitor, traveling by train and carriage to the exotic country of Transylvania to provide information to the mysterious Count Dracula about his new estate in London.

SCENE 2: Dracula's Castle

Upon arriving at the crumbling old castle, Harker finds the Count to be a well-educated and hospitable gentleman. After only a few days,  however, Harker becomes aware that he is no longer a guest, but a prisoner in the castle.

One evening, Harker falls under the spell of three beautiful and seductive female vampires. But the Count staves them off, telling the vampires that Harker belongs to him. He wants to keep Harker alive just long enough to obtain needed legal advice and teachings about England and London. Harker barely escapes from the castle with his life.

SCENE 3: Dracula's Journey to England

Dracula summons his caretakers, the Gypsies, and orders them to prepare for the long journey to England. The voyage by ship is treacherous and filled with high winds and dangerous waves. During a fierce tempest, the vessel runs aground on the shores of Whitby, England. All of the crew are missing and presumed dead.

SCENE 4: Westenra Household in Whitby, England

Harker’s fiancee Mina Murray is on holiday with her friend, Lucy Westenra. Lucy, a young woman with many suitors, had received three proposals of marriage from John Seward, a London doctor, Quincey Morris, a Texan, and Arthur Holmwood, the son of a Lord. In the end and after much wooing, Lucy accepts Arthur Holmwood’s hand in marriage.

SCENE 5: Dr. Seward's Asylum

Dracula encounters Seward’s patient Renfield, an insane man who means to consume insects, spiders, birds, and other creatures in order to absorb their “life force”. Renfield, whose mind straddles fantasy and reality, is one of the few who can see past Count Dracula’s elegant facade to the darker powers which lie beneath.

SCENE 6: Courtyard Outside Westenra Household

While enjoying her time with Lucy, Mina begins to worry because Harker is long overdue. Lucy begins to have nightmares and one night is mysteriously drawn into the courtyard. Dracula appears and bites Lucy on the neck. Mina, who had secretly followed Lucy into the courtyard, catches Dracula feeding off of Lucy.

Instead of showing fear, Mina’s only concern is the well being of her friend. This quality is perplexing to Dracula, who falls in love with Mina because of her purity of spirit, courage, and beauty. Mina, too, is drawn to Dracula’s power and soon appears to be enchanted, falling in love with the charismatic Count.

Sensing something wrong, Van Helsing, a friend of Dr. Seward, rushes into the courtyard with Lucy’s suitors and sees Lucy stretched across Mina’s lap on a courtyard bench. Immediately recognizing Count Dracula, Van Helsing alerts the others to what is happening and wards off Dracula with a cross from his coat. Dracula escapes and decides to return to his castle in Transylvania.

 

act 2

SCENE 1: Mina Searches For Jonathan Harker

Mina had no time to ponder the killing of Lucy as she received a letter saying that Harker was safe, but unwell after a traumatic experience in Transylvania. Mina travels to join Harker to help in his recuperations. Mina and Harker soon rekindle their love to each other and return to England from Europe, newly married.

SCENE 2: Westenra Household in Whitby, England

Upon arriving in England, Mina and Harker rush to see Van Helsing and the others, who listen to Harker’s story about Dracula. Van Helsing shares his fears that Lucy, too, had become a vampire and the group is determined to hunt down the Count. Van Helsing prepares them for the battle.

SCENE 3: Lucy's Tomb

Mina, Holmwood, Morris, Seward, and Harker accompany Van Helsing to Lucy’s tomb, where they witness her transformation into a vampire. As they battle Lucy, Dr. Seward is caught by surprise and killed by Lucy. Van Helsing follows the ritual of vampire slaying to ensure that Lucy will forever remain dead by cutting off her head.

SCENE 4: Travel to Dracula's Castle

Mina, Harker, Holmwood, Morris, and Harker accompany Van Helsing to Dracula’s castle to slay the Count.

SCENE 5: Dracula's Castle

At the castle, the Minions, Dracula’s protectors, prepare for battle with Van Helsing and his entourage, who sneak up on the Minions during their preparations. When Dracula arrives, Van Helsing confronts Dracula and the battle begins. In the struggle with Van Helsing, Arthur Holmwood shoots Dracula with a silver bullet. Wounded and still alive, Dracula tries to feed on Van Helsing, who succeeds in driving a stake through Dracula’s heart. With great respect for his opponent, Van Helsing carries Dracula off for burial. Mina and Harker are overjoyed and relieved that they have finally triumphed over Count Dracula.